Gather Divine Coins and Gacha! - Chapter 268/Alec Side

 As the autumn rainy season begins, rain falls day after day. I walk outside without even wearing a cloak.

I just can’t seem to settle down.

"For a hastily put-together project, it’s turning out better than I expected..."

I thought it would be just good enough to keep the rain out and provide light at night, but now that the rainy season is here, it feels quite reliable. Walking along the roofed passage that connects to the Adventurer’s Guild, I reflect on this.

The city that used to be under Zelkis territory, Lutur, has now become the capital of Riana territory, and with that, the city is expanding and major facilities are being renovated or rebuilt. This roofed passage that connects the main facilities is part of that. It was originally scheduled to be constructed over the winter, but due to a change in the monsters' habitats discovered around summer, adventurers became available, so they were slotted into the construction work.

For now, the roofed passage only connects the lord’s manor and the facilities of the Knight Order, which includes the Adventurer’s Guild, but it will likely extend to the commercial district soon. As I continue along, occasionally raising a hand in response to the salutes of passing soldiers, I arrive at my destination, the Adventurer’s Guild.

When I open the door and step inside, I see even more adventurers than usual.

It was the same during the spring rainy season, but there are even more now. This is evidence that the number of adventurers entering the city from the outside has increased, but no problems have arisen, and for the time being, they won’t stop recruiting adventurers.

I can’t help but think of the proud branch chief and Rick, who always wears the opposite expression, and a smile almost creeps onto my face, but I suppress it and head further inside. All around, I hear my name, nicknames, and even half-joking calls of “captain.” Although my position has shifted from being just another adventurer to their leader, luckily — if that’s the right word — the sense of distance between us hasn’t changed.

As I continue walking, brushing off the remarks as best I can, I notice a group of children among them. There are about ten or so, and they look at me with gazes typically reserved for knights.

I hadn’t really paid attention before, but it seems the adventurers' status in this city is gradually changing.

The branch chief must be overjoyed…

◇

"Hey there! Sorry to make you come out in this rain, Captain."

The branch chief greets me, not looking the least bit sorry. Officially, he reports to me, and in public, he acts accordingly, but in private, this is how it always is.

"I wouldn’t have come if the passage wasn’t completed."

I shrug and respond, and he bursts out laughing.

Thanks to the adventurers dispatched for the construction work, the various debts leftover from when this city was still Lutur seem to have been settled. Issues like the adventurers’ status, which had been bothering him for a long time, have largely been resolved as well.

Looking away from the branch chief, I scan the room and see Ashley, the vice-captain of the first squad, Zack, and the heads of the various guilds. I had been briefed on today’s agenda, so I had a rough idea of what to expect. But...

"I’m a little surprised to see you here."

Standing in the corner of the room is a man in his mid-forties with long hair tied back. He’s the head of the Hunters’ Guild, which oversees the hunters in this city and throughout the territory. His name is Mile.

Back when this place was still Zelkis territory, the relationship between the Adventurers’ Guild and the Hunters’ Guild wasn’t exactly good. Adventurers were likely looked down upon, and unless there was an emergency, like a monster attack, the two groups rarely interacted.

"You remember me?"

He looks a bit surprised. The last time we met was when I first arrived in this city and greeted him. It’s been about a year and a half since then, I suppose.

"Well, there were far too many adventurers focused only on monsters before, but recently, they’ve improved. I figured we could work together now."

The branch chief looks slightly awkward at hearing this, which is understandable.

Beasts don’t drop sacred coins.

Some ill-mannered adventurers would carelessly injure or chase away animals they encountered during a hunt. A wounded beast is extremely troublesome. Moreover, this place is right next to a demonic wilderness.

Ideally, the Adventurers’ Guild should have stepped in and put a stop to this behavior, but fearing a deterioration in relations with the adventurers, who are critical to the city’s defense, they couldn’t take a strong stance. The current branch chief is doing a much better job, but the long-standing tension hasn’t been fully resolved.

"I see... That’s a relief. Considering what’s ahead, we can’t do without your strength..."

After all, the forests and mountains in the Riana territory, including the demonic wilderness, are their domain. Their knowledge far exceeds ours. Securing the cooperation of Mile and his hunters is a major asset.

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Seria・【Hidden Sanctuary】+1【Prayer】【Blessing of Mira】・【Floating Orb】【Shadow Sword】【Scarlet Bee's Sting】【Fairy Eye】【Dragon’s Lung】【Amber Sword】【Dunlem's Thread】・1 card

Seriana・【Area Identification】・【】・35 cards

Elena・【】・【Green Fang】・5 cards

Alec・【】・【Red Shield】【Fierce Horn】・12 cards